The car drove in silence.
The moment she started moving, Caesar quickly noticed it.
At the beginning, he pretended not to.
The car was already warm, the heater cranked up to the highest setting. His coat swallowed her small frame entirely, yet she was still trembling.
Caesar told himself he shouldn't concern himself with her anymore.
Then he heard her whisper.
"Cold…"
The word she mumbled was barely heard, but Caesar caught the weak, accusatory whine beneath it.
His eyebrows tightened.
He felt it first. A small, pale hand sticking out of his coat. It tapped a few times. Blindly groping around as if looking for something.
And then—
She touched him.
Her cold fingers rubbed against his clothed thigh first. Then, her entire palm landed on his thigh. She tested it first, rubbing gently, before she finally enclosed her entire palm around it, squishing him.
Caesar went completely still.
Even after pretending he didn't notice her little action, Caesar couldn't resist glancing down.
He watched her hand curl slightly, fingers brushing over his slacks, and she pulled, as if expecting whatever she touched to move closer as she commanded it to.
From the driver's seat, Romano glanced at the rearview mirror, a hint of surprise and terror in his eyes. In the passenger seat, Senda stilled, sitting up straight as though a rod was attached to his back.
Senda coughed lightly, pretending not to see. Meanwhile, Romano's shoulders shook as he refocused his attention on the road before him.
"Should I change seats with her?" Senda suggested amidst the tension in the air.
"Look in front."
That was all he needed from Caesar to shut his mouth up and not look at the back anymore.
Suddenly, they heard their boss speak again.
"Don't. It'll cost you," Caesar said.
They weren't sure which of them he was warning. But they dared not look anymore.
In the backseat, Aurora became restless again. Sensing that the warm thing wouldn't move closer to her, even as she pulled and pinched, she finally groped around, searching higher.
Warmth enveloped the back of her hand. What she didn't see was that her hand moved dangerously close to his crotch.
Hence, Caesar said those warnings. He stopped her hand before she could grab anything more from him.
She hugged his thigh like a pillow, wriggling closer like a cat chasing warmth. And before Caesar could stop her, she pressed her cheek against his thigh.
And sighed. A small contented sound came from her nose.
The entire car went silent again. An impregnable barrier that no one dared to pierce through. Romano and Senda were tempted to look at the back, but the air was too thick and suffocating. They became even more afraid of what was to come if they looked behind!
Maybe… a peek would be fine, right?
On the other hand, Caesar stared down at the woman who was using his leg as if it were a heated pillow. Her breathing was calm and rhythmic.
She had no idea what she was doing. Her fever muddled her head.
Caesar kept thinking this as he patiently convinced himself not to do anything rash. Besides, his hand was already caught by her other claw.
His silver gaze landed toward the front.
"Enjoying the show?" he asked coldly.
Immediately after his voice came, the two curious men no longer looked back.
Caesar looked down again.
Aurora snuggled closer, eyes closed and sleeping comfortably. He had never allowed a woman this close to him. Such a delicate and intimate position was a thing he never had the urge to replicate. He had seen other people do it with their partners, but a man like him could never be allowed to be seen or have a partner he could be close with.
He wasn't promiscuous to begin with. But why the hell was he being seduced right now?
Unbelievable.
He should move her away. Wake her up and push her off him. It had been an easy task in the past. And that would be the best for both of them.
Instead, his hand hovered briefly above her head before gently touching her cheek. Her skin was burning hot like coal. Her fever was still not gone.
Caesar let his hand caress her cheek before riding up to her forehead, brushing the hair covering it.
Too hot.
Staying briefly outside would not result in such a high fever.
"Drive faster."
"Yes, sir."
"Senda, call Lucius and tell him to wait in my house."
Both orders were executed immediately.
Caesar leaned back slightly, allowing her more space to move without making it obvious.
But her dishonest hand pinched his inner leg again.
"Taking advantage of me?" he muttered lowly, a sound only she could hear, though she couldn't comprehend his words. "I might start charging you for this."
His eyes deepened as she responded by gripping his hand tightly, guiding his palm to the curve of her neck, leaning into his touch like a cat being rubbed by the neck in the way she nestled closer to him.
As if daring him to try.
And for reasons he couldn't fathom…
He didn't move her away.
The drive ended smoothly when they reached a tall glass building that rose above the city. They entered the private elevator, which lifted the entire car to the top floor, where a penthouse awaited them.
It was a place where only a few were allowed. Even some of his close aides weren't allowed to step into this place. Caesar never allowed anyone inside without his permission; the guards stationed outside were enough to deter anyone from trying.
A man with warm-toned skin and expressive eyes behind gold-rimmed eyeglasses stared at them when the elevator opened.
"Tsar, you're kidding me, right?"
Caesar ignored the man as he stepped over the threshold and went inside, a woman being carried in his arms.
The man didn't see the girl's face, but it was enough to leave him so stunned that he was unable to speak.
Finally, he found the words, but Caesar was long gone.
Romano bowed his head respectfully to him.
"Good evening, Sir Lucius."
"Don't bother." Lucius waved his hand dismissively. "It's not even night anymore. 2 am… just what happened? And who is that girl my brother is carrying?"